Not So Sweethearts
A request commonly heard by family law attorneys is, “I need to legally separate from my spouse.” This is actually one of the most straight forward legal concerns our clients have, but it’s the other considerations that go along with a separation that become more complicated. While you may be eager to move on from […]
Divorce Effects on Children
It is easy for parents contemplating or going through a divorce to forget how detrimental this process is on kids both during and after. This is especially true if the divorce is brought on by one parent’s actions or decision or due to traumatic events in the marriage. These types of situations are stressful and […]
Play ball! The importance of using a licensed parenting coordinator
Posted by Penelope L. Hefner “Strike three – you’re out!” “Flag on the play!” “Flagrant foul!” Think about watching your favorite sporting event without an umpire or referee. What would that game be like? Would the participants follow the rules? Would everyone truly be on their best behavior? Or would friendly competitions descend into chaos? […]
Children Come First In Divorce – Survey Says
When you can no longer ignore your unhealthy marriage, do you wonder why you are inclined to stick it out while your neighbor has bitten the bullet and separated or filed for divorce? Is it because they live by the mantra “Life is Not a Dress Rehearsal” and they are seeking happiness for themselves in […]
Separation Agreement – Is Self-Help Form Enough?
In the high-tech digital age in which we live, you can find so much information online, including fill-in-the-blank self-help documents that purport to help you handle your entire divorce without needing to hire an attorney. Be careful!!!! Just because you don’t understand what you signed doesn’t mean the contract is not valid! A Separation Agreement […]
Termination of Parental Rights
A parent’s right to direct the care, custody, and control of his or her children, to the exclusion of all other persons, is a fundamental and constitutionally protected civil right. But, as with all rights, parental rights come with responsibilities. And, a parent’s failure to meet the responsibilities of providing for the care, custody, and […]
Can My Child Choose?
It is commonly misunderstood in North Carolina family law cases that there is a certain age in which a child can choose the parent with whom he or she wants to reside. In consultations, moms and dads will regularly tell me that they were holding out on their separation until their child was 12 because […]
Appealing Family Law Matters
In the past year, there is a good chance that you heard of at least one of the high-profile family law cases decided by the United States Supreme Court. To list a few, there was the decision upholding (most of) the Affordable Care Act, the decision invalidating the provision of the federal law that defined […]
Parental Alienation Recognized
Parental Alienation is a hot topic in high conflict Child Custody Cases across the country. Unfortunately, the terms are used so frequently, the Courts often disregard the significant harm Parental Alienation can cause in a parent-child relationship particularly because there has never been a “diagnosis” of this behavior. A group of health professionals has continued […]
Unmarried Fathers Should Know Their Rights
Fathers trying to gain visitation with their child or custody of their child should be aware of the distinctions in rights made between married and unmarried fathers. In North Carolina, there is a vast difference between a father’s rights regarding their children when they are married to the mother of their child, and a father’s rights […]